DEQ tells JFAC vacancies and turnover are slowing permits; asks for targeted pay to retain technical staff

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee that staff vacancies and turnover are lengthening permit timelines and that targeted pay increases and other retention measures are needed to keep technical permitting functions in state control.

Director Jess Byrne told the committee the agency currently has roughly 385 full‑time positions authorized and reported about 37 vacancies (a vacancy rate of about 9.7% at budget submission). Byrne said turnover has concentrated in technical permitting positions and that training new hires to full proficiency takes substantial time. "Rather than coming to the legislature and asking for additional positions, it's critical that we first address our recruitment and retention issues," Byrne said during closing remarks.

Why it matters: DEQ issues air and wastewater permits that entities must have before they build or operate facilities. Committee members said delayed permits slow projects and economic activity.

Permitting timelines and turnover

Byrne and DEQ staff said average timeliness has deteriorated in some programs. DEQ gave an example that the agency’s average time to issue an air quality permit increased from about 89 days in February of a referenced year to roughly 160 days at the time of testimony. Byrne said some programs experienced vacancy rates of 50–60% in the past year and that the agency’s average tenure for new hires has been about 2.8 years, which complicates retention after the state invests in multi‑year training.

Targeted pay proposal and CEC context

DEQ proposed increasing entry‑level pay competitiveness (raising the minimum comp ratio for hires to 83% for most targeted positions and to 86% for hardest‑to‑fill roles) and raising pay for existing proficient employees to address compression and equity. Byrne said the governor’s recommendation combined with a classified employee compensation (CEC) package already voted on by the committee would improve DEQ’s ability to recruit and retain specialized staff. "Quality workers do. Making this investment in DEQ is an investment in Idaho," Byrne told the committee (prepared testimony and materials note the phrasing used in the hearing packet).

Program impacts and enforcement

Byrne warned that permit delays can hamper economic development: projects that require air permits or wastewater discharge permits cannot proceed until permits are issued. She also said enforcement capacity is important to prevent third‑party litigation that would remove state primacy; DEQ staff described several recent cases in which third‑party suits prompted state action.

Loan funds, remediation and other funds

Budget analyst Janet Jessup reviewed DEQ fund activity and noted the agency oversees loan funds for drinking water and wastewater facility projects as well as multiple remediation and waste‑management funds. Byrne described the Bunker Hill basin remediation account in Northern Idaho and the state’s O&M/match obligations at that Superfund site. The committee discussed a $4.8 million recurring transfer that supplies the state’s water pollution control account (intended to ensure match capacity for federal capitalization grants) and a $1.5 million planned transfer into the Basin Remediation account; Byrne said the wastewater/drinking water loan account had accumulated a large balance following recent legislative appropriations and that awarded projects were in the process of being funded.

Other details from the hearing

Jessup noted the DEQ had about 35,000,000 in personnel expenditures (about 23% of one reported appropriation figure) at the time of the budget submission and that the agency requested targeted pay increases and other enhancements for 2026. Committee members asked for further detail on pay proposals, the effect of CEC decisions and the waste‑tire and remediation funds. Byrne offered to follow up with written material and said DEQ would provide requested details through the committee’s analysts.

Ending

Byrne closed by thanking staff and asking the committee to consider the targeted pay and CEC combination as a path to stabilize staffing, preserve state primacy over permitting and keep projects moving. "Pride doesn't get permits out the door. Quality workers do," Byrne said in closing.